The Mabel-Canton School Board approved hiring Mike Harvey as the school’s new superintendent at its April 21 school board meeting.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Harvey is currently the CTE Construction teacher at Goodhue Public Schools in Goodhue, Minn. He has been employed in that capacity since August 2024. Before returning to teaching, he served as superintendent at Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools for six years, and prior to that, he was the principal at Goodhue Schools for 10 years.
Current Superintendent Gary Kuphal said that Harvey immediately accepted the .4 FTE position, which is the same amount of time that he has been working at the school. “One of the real advantages that I see to Mike is the fact that he’s been superintendent in Minnesota. So, he has knowledge not only of the superintendent position, but also school finance. He was the only one that had both of those criteria.”
Kuphal added, “I think he’s going to be a really good fit.”
Board members present at the meeting were Dustin Tollefsrud, Traci Livingood, Diane Wider, Amber Tripp, Mark Weidemann and Chair Chris Miller. Jason Marquardt was not in attendance.
Chairman Miller called the meet to order at 6 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The board approved the agenda and minutes from the March 17 regular school board meeting and the March 24 and March 25 special school board meetings.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, including the 2025-26 budget, claims report, and the resignations of Drama Club Advisor Dustin Tollefsrud, and paraprofessional Raedene Quandahl. The board thanked them for their service.
As of the end of March, the school’s enrollment report shows 250 students, compared to 247 students at the beginning of the year. The report also indicates that there were 86 open enrollments out and eight open enrollments in.
The board unanimously approved the junior class’s request to hold a spring mulch fundraiser, as they want to get a head start on raising money for their senior class trip to Washington, D.C. next year. With only 11 students in the class, early fundraising is important. The class is partnering with Mabel Village Farm and Home and will be selling mulch. Students will deliver the mulch to the customer’s home and for a freewill donation for spreading it out. The students will not be doing any landscaping, such as pulling weeds.
The fundraiser begins April 22, with delivery scheduled for Saturday, May 9. The mulch is available in three different colors, as well as a Cypress option. Each bag is 2 by 2 cubic yards and costs $8, with the class earning $3 per bag.
In other business, the board:
- Approved Gary Kuphal as Bond Referendum Project Manager. $12,000 was allocated for this position.;
- Approved the SE Library System Membership Agreement;
- Approved the HVED Agreement for 2026-27 targeted services;
- Renewed the school insurance from June 12, 2026, to June 12, 2027;
- Renewed the Cooperative Sports Agreement with Fillmore Central for the 2026-27 wrestling season;
- Delegated Heather Wilder as Person of Authority for Special Education IEP Meetings as a backup for Principal Weidemann if she is not able to attend a meeting because two may be scheduled on the same day;
- Approved the Media Specialist Consultant Position and appointed Laura Gudmundson for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year and the 2026-27 school year;
- Approved the 2026-27 school calendar with a late start date after Labor Day weekend;
- Discussed the business manager position;
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
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